Ornaments such as christmas trees and method of manufacture



Aug. 14, 1945. Q s, PRlcE 2,382,746

ORNAMENTS SUCH AS CHRISTMAS TREES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Jan. 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L a Z9 Z5 Z9 Z5 VINVENTOR CV/fl/VZES 6,PA /c ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1945. & PmcE- r 2,382,746-

ORNAMENTS SUCH AS; CHRISTMAS TREES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Jan. 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIUW ATTORNEY 6 4 7 ZR 8 R U 3 T m F U N A M F 0. D 0 H T E M D N A s E E R T S m h T S I R H C S A H C U S S T N E M A N R 0 Aug 14, 1945.

c. 8. PRICE Filed Jan 30, 1942 s Sheets-Shee't3 INVENTOR (WW/F456 ,9 Pk/GE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1945 ORNAMENTS SUCH .AS CHRISTMAS TREES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Charles S. Price, Hollis, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1942, Serial No. 428,859

'12 Claims. (01. 41-15).

This invention relates to ornaments and, more particularly, to such in the form of artificial miniature Christmas trees.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to produce ornaments, which may resemble Christmas trees adapted to contain lights, operable uniformly or intermittently.

Another object of my invention is to produce an ornament resembling a Christmas tree and comprising a base, a hollow cylindrical support, a generally-circular member on said support and a decorative top, fitting over and secured 'to the peripheral portion of said circular member, said circular member also being adapted to support an electric lamp and the decorative top being desirably apertured to allow light from said lamp to pass therethrough for decorative purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ornament, as described in the preceding paragraph, in which the light is controlled by a thermostatic element, causing it to blink and thereby emit flashes of light through apertures in the 'dec orative top.

A still further object of my invention is the manufacture of an ornament simulating a Christmas tree by cutting the elements out of cardboard or fibrous sheet material, which material is desirably covered with foil or metallic paint and suitably printed and/ or otherwise decorated, and then fitting the parts together so that they interlock with respect to one another by means of tongue-an'd-groove connections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts, will become apparent as the description proceeds.

' In the drawings: s a

Figure 1 is a perspective view'of 'on'e form of my invention assembled and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a vertical. sectional view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1;, on the line II--II of Fig. 3, in the direction of the arrows. f

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, on the line III-III of Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a plan of one of the normally horizontal, generally circular, elements of the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a face or elevational View of one of the elements forming the compound star attached to the top of the ornament shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. I

Figure 6 is a face or elevational view of the other element forming the compound star shown in Fig. 2.

Figure '7 is a face or flat view of the blank from which the pleated decorated conical or foliage portion of the ornament illustrate in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is formed.

Figure'8 is a fragmentary face or fiat view of the ornamental edging on the base of the ornament shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top view of the compound star and central portion 'of the pleated conical top part of the ornament shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line XX of Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a face or fiat view of the material from which the trunk or central hollow cylindrical support of the ornament, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is produced.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown an ornament intended to represent a Christmas tree, and which I term an artificial miniature Christmas tree. With the exception of the lamp and attachments, I propose to make the ornament entirely of parts out from heavy paper or cardboard stock, which is desirably coated on both sides with metallic foil-0r paint, and the outside of certain portions of which is desirably ornamented, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The upper pleated conical portion and the lower decorative base edging are desirably apertured to emit light from the interior and simulate stars, candles, illuminated windows and other lightemitting and/ or reflecting objects.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a base ll consisting of a generally circular element l2, formed with outstanding looking lugs l3, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, and intermediate apertures l4 and 15 disposed around a central aperture l6 for assembly purposes.

The circular base element I2 is shown provided with a decorative edging I1 formed with an interlocking lug l 8 at one end and a receiving aperture I9 at the other, whereby the same may be joined as a decorative cylindrical portion around the generally-circular member I 2, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The member I! is also desirably provided with a plurality of slots 2| for receiving the outstanding lugs 13 of the generally-circular member I2 for interlocking the parts together. The member ll also desirably has a notch 22 for receiving the cord of a lamp to be mentioned later.

From the base I l extends a support or trunk member 23, formed generally hollow cylindrical from a piece of stock out to the shape illustrated in Fig. 11, then curved to cylindrical form, and the ends connected together by the outstanding lugs 24 and 25 on one end cooperating, respectively, with slots 26 and a notch 21 on the other end. The lugs 24 are angular or hook-shaped to catch in the slots 26 in the other end, and the lug 25 is generally rectangular to fit in the notch 2'! and prevent undesired withdrawal, after engagement, of the hooks 24 from the slots 28.

The long sides of the member 23 are also provided with hook-shaped lugs 28 and rectangular lugs 29 on its lower edge for reception in the core responding slots I4 and I of the base member;

|2 for interlocking the parts together after forming the stock to hollow cylindrical form to produce the trunk member 23. That is, the hollow cylindrical member 23 is connected to the member l2 by fitting the lugs 28 in the corresponding slots 4 and turning said member 23 about its axis until the hook members 28 lock in said slots and then bending the rectangular members 29 into the slots l5 to preventunde'siredrotation of the member 23 with respect to-the member l2 to unlocking position.

Member 3|, which may be identical with the member I2, is supported on the trunk member 23 and connected thereto by, similar interlock: ing engagement between hook-shaped and rectangular lugs 32 and 33 on the top of the {Heme ber 23 received in corresponding slots 34 and 35 in the member 3|. I

The central aperture 35in the member 3! receives a socket 31 for a lamp 38 from which the electric cord 39 extends through the notch 22 in the base edging previously referred to. A thermostatic member, to cause intermittent 019+ eration of the lamp 38, or produce blinking, may

be incorporated in the socket-31. The lamp is desirably held in place by rubber washers 4] and 42 disposed respectively above and below the member 3| and gripping the lamp socl iet 31 there-1 between, holding the lamp iii-place above the central element 3|.

Supported on the elen1ent'3! is a pleated Q0111 ical member 43 simulating the foliage of, and printed to represent ornaments on a Christmas tree. This element is desirably out out or apers tured at the ornaments-representingcandles, stars, balls, etc., to allow light from the lamp 38 to pass therethrough. The member 43 is out to the sh pe shown in Fi a is, it is ener lly a circular sector with the outer periphery angularly extending or cut slightly zigzag, as indicated at 44, and the radial-edged portions 45 and 46 formed respectively with hooked and rectangular lugs 41 and 48, respectively received in slots and rectangular notches 49 and 5| for joining'said radial edges to produce a'conical member. after pleating by bending alternately on the radial lines 52, represented dotted in Fig.- '7.

The member 43 is also desirably provided with slots 53 adapted to interlockingly receive the outstanding lugs 54 on thegenerally-circular member 3| forholding the parts in position. 1

After assembling the parts described, the top of the device is desirably further ornamented by the insertion of a compound star 55 in an upper aperture produced by cutting away the vertex portioh'of the pleated cone stock, as in: dicated at 56 in Fig. '71 This star is formed of 2 members, one designated 51'as shown in Fig.5, and the other designated 58, as shown in Fig. 6. The elements 51 and '58 fit together by the notched portion 59 of the element 58 receiving the upper point portion 6| of the member 51, while the lower notched portion 62 thereof receives the lower body portion 63 of the star element 58. The lower or stem portion 54 of the star element 58 is also desirably notched, as indicated at 65, to provide resiliency when the compound stem members 6466 are inserted in the aperture 56 at the top of the pleated conical portion of the ornament. v

Having now described the construction of the ornament, I will disclose how the elements thereof are desirably assembled in the process of manufacture. The .ornamental peripheral member I! is first connected to the edge of the circular member |2 by bending around the periphery thereof, with the lugs |3 received in the correspending slots 2 I, and finally uniting the ends of the peripheral edging I! by fitting the lug IS in the slot l9 and bending it outwardly to unite the parts. I I v The material of the trunk member 23 is bent to hollow cylindrical form andfthe lugs. and 25 engaged in the corresponding ,slots and notch 26 and 2']. The hollow cylindrical member is then assembled with the circular base member I by fittin the r sp ndi f eho ed l gs at the ower end thereo nto the c rrs o li i slots I4 of said basemen ber, rotating tointer lock, and th n bendi ow the lu s ZSL-intsi the slots 5 t h d. sa d parts interloc ed po-l sition. l a

The. lamp isthen assembled. with, the upper circular member 3| by means of. the rubb r wash ers 4| and 42, the cord 38 of said lamp passing through the central apenture It oi the base m mber 2. a d t enotch 22 f th -a nular a e edging member The generallyeoircular member 3| is. then assembled with the tppjqttbe trunk member 23, in amanner similar. to the as.- sembly between the base member I? and the lower edge of said trunk member. v

The upper or foliage member 43, after bend-z ing and connection betweenthe radial edge Dortions thereof toproduce a, pleated conical member, is fitted over the circular-memberflso that the outstanding lugs 54 are received in the: corresponding slots 53 which hold theparts interlocked with respect to one another. Finally, the star ornament isassembled and the stern portion 64-66, thereof, inserted in the upper-aperture 56 of the Christmas tree.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been described, it will be understood that modification may' be made withinthe spirit and scope of the appended'claims, and that, although I have illustrated an artificial miniature Christmas tree,- yet other similar ornaments maybe producedinlike manner. 1

I claim: v I

1. An ornament comprising a generally-chow lar portion, a decorativeedging comprisingsheet material encircling, and slotted to receive 00,11? nesting tabs on,v the periphery of saidgcnfirallycircular portion, a central stem with its. lower end interlocked with said circular portion and carrying a generally-circular supporting member, and a decorative pleated top'tapered upward from the edge of said generally-circular supporting member.

2. An' ornament composed entirely ofsheet material and comprising a generally-circular portion, a decorative edging interlocked-therewlthpa central stem with its lower end interlocked with said circular portion and carrying a generallyr sms 1 utting min hea anemia pair r circular supporting member, a decorative genorally-conical" portion tapered upward from the edge of said generally-circular supportingrnember, and a top decoration with astem fitting in an aperture in said generally-conical portion.

3. Ari-artificial miniatur Christmas treecomfprising a "generally-circular portionwithf outstanding peripheral tabs, a decorative edging with slots receiving said tabs to interlock it therewith and completing a base therefor, a central stem with its lower end interlocked with said circular portion, another generally-circular supporting member interlocked with the top of said central stem, a decorative foliage-simulating top supported on said last-mentioned circular member, and a star member with a stem fitting in an aperture in the decorative top member.

4. An artificial miniature Christmas tree comprising a base, said base having a plurality of slots arranged therein around a center, some of said slots being relatively narrow and alternating with relatively wide slots, a hollow cylindrical member formed from a generally-rectangular blank, the opposite short sides of said blank being provided, respectively, with a plurality of hookshaped securing tabs and a locking tab on the one hand, and hook-receiving slots and a locking notch on the other, in order to hold said member, after bending, in hollow cylindrical form, the other sides of said blank being both provided with alternating hook-shaped and rectangular locking tabs, one set of said alternating tabs connecting said trunk member, after assembly, as a hollow cylinder, to said base member and a foliage-simulating top portion connected to the other end of said trunk member by said other set of alternating tabs.

5. An artificial miniature Christmas tree comprising a base, a trunk extending therefrom and having outstanding tabs, and a conical portion supported by said trunk, and formed from a blank cut generally as a circular sector, the radial edges of said sector being respectively formed with angular connecting tabs and a locking tab, on the one hand, and slots and a notch, on the other hand, with the angular tabs passing through said slots and hooking over the material defining ends thereof, and the locking tab bent into the notch to prevent unhooking, the generally-circular edge portion of said sector being provided with a series of slots for interlockingly receiving said outstanding trunk tabs, said conical portion having radial pleats to simulate foliage.

6. An artificial miniature Christmas tree comprising a base consisting of a generally-circular normally horizontal portion with outstanding interlocking tabs, a peripheral normally vertical portion connected to said circular portion by said tabs extending through slots therein near the lower edge thereof, a hollow cylindrical trunk portion, formed with alternating rectangular and angular tabs extending from opposite ends thereof, said circular portion [being formed with correspondin circularly-arranged slots receiving said tabs to hold and lock said portions together, a corresponding generally-circular normallyhorizontal support portion, provided with corresponding circularly-arranged slots receiving the other set of trunk-portion tabs, said last-mentioned portion having outstanding tabs, and a foliage-simulating portion supported by said last-mentioned portion, and provided with slots near its lower periphery, receiving said outstanding tabs, for locking the parts together.

'7. The method of makin an ornament comn al v rj bl n s with. ea er y-ariranged slots and'out'sjtanding peripheraltabs, cutting a generally-rectangular blank with a pair of o po i je' i s; ams: i .w "s in, oll

cylindrical and". the lothefr ed'gejs'f arranged tointerl'oc respectively w t said circular'bl'anks, bending an .conneot ing s'aid rectangularblank in cylindrical rein, connecting said" generallycircular blanks, one above and one below said cylindrical member, cutting a generally-circular sector from similar material, connecting radial edges of said sector to make a conical structure, pleating along radial lines, and supporting from the uppermost of said generally-circular members.

8. The method of making an ornament simulating a Christmas tree, comprising cutting a pair of generally-circular blanks with circularly-arranged slots and outstandin peripheral tabs, cutting a generally-rectangular blank with one edge serrated to an ornamental configuration, forming slots adjacent the other edge portion to receive the outstanding tabs from one of said circular members, cutting another generally-rectangular member with holding and locking tabs, slots and notches respectively disposed on a pair of opposite edges, in order to hold said member in hollow cylindrical form after bending, and hookshaped and rectangular tabs on the other pair of opposite edges, fastening said circular memfloors to opposite ends of said hollow cylindrical member by inserting the hook-shaped tabs in corresponding circularly-arranged slots, rotating to interlocked position, and bending down the other tabs into corresponding slots to prevent unlocking, cutting a, generally-circular sector from similar material, forming interlocking portions on the radial edges thereof, so as to hold the member, after bending, in generally-conical form, forming slots adjacent its generally-circular edge to receive the tabs from one of said generally-circular members, for holding the parts together, bending said sector alternately in 011- posite directions along radial lines to provide a pleated construction, and completing the ornament by inserting a star at the top of said conical member.

9. An ornament composed entirely of sheet material and comprising a base consisting of a generally-circular central portion with radially projecting eripheral tabs and a decorative ed ing slotted to interlockingly receive said tabs and hold said :central portion above its lower edge, a hollow cylindrical central support connected to said base 'bytabs outstanding from its edge and passing throughthe slots in the central portion, a generally-circular top connected to said support bysimilar tabs and receiving slots, and a decorative top fitting over and secured to the peripheral portion of said circular top.

10. An ornament comprising a generally-circular portion, a decorative edging interlocked therewith and completing a base therefor by providing 2. depending peripheral supportingflange, a central stem with its lower end interlocked with said circular portion, another generally-circular supporting member interlocked with the top of said stem, and a decorative top device supported on said last-mentioned circular member.

11. An artificial miniature Christmas tree comprising a base with a surrounding decorative edging, tabs from said base passing through slots in said edging for interlocking the parts together, slots in said cincular portion, a hollow member w h sianendins fittin in m 1519115 o inter 1041 the part tos har, s wllpw; memmr imu1ating a m-n3, 2.1141 A tql agmimulat n P P- ti n supp r c by Md trunk- 2V- n artifieia- .min atu 013mm Jim? nompnslng a termed a5 asann lly -mmular pqrtion with a su rounding ma s).(native. .8i s, tabs from said c cula pm'tion. passing h ough slpts in s id gdgingitor 1 91411118 M9984? gather, ann lar y ng d low- 1 said irculg;

p tion, a hollow s y indr nal mfimber with i pendi g tabs nt r ockins y'fl fins sai 1 t a f ia simu tins pn 'supp r ed by mea s of saidhqllpw cylindricglmpmber, and a star deice ith a plurality q ron s dependinzfihe 

